The pace of the story was just right — although the last chapter felt like an unnecessary sprint race, which I ended up forgiving. It is a perfect “get-me-out-of-my-slump” read. In her first fiction book for young readers, writer, broadcaster and award-winning social advocate, Yassmin Abdel-Magied, gives us the inspiring and hopeful story of Layla. A Sudanese teenager in Australia, Layla is curious, adventurous and determined to learn anything and everything she can about the world. Her family moved to Australia from Sudan when her mother, a doctor, was offered a position at a Brisbane hospital, and things have been very different ever since. Apart from me feeling a but "meh" about the private school theme this book did make a good point about Sudanese needing to strive for wealth more because they have family in abject poverty they are trying to help. I've heard similar stuff from Afghani young people too. Nevertheless it erodes the public system more when authors keep portraying that the way to succeed is get a scholarship to a posh school. A minority of students get those scholarships anyway, the majority are like Dina. You Must Be Layla is a heart-warming story that will give young readers insight into the lives of migrants to Australia and the struggles with racism and identity that they grapple with. It also explores the pressure that students can be under from their parents to perform at school and how this can play out in very detrimental ways. Layla is a wonderfully warm and vibrant character who will stay with you long after you have finished reading her story. A perfect book to get young readers thinking more about issues in the playground and to the bigger world beyond it. You Must Be Layla features a protagonist and story that are pivotal in today's Australian lit, but a few things fell short for me. Nonetheless, I think this is a good story for kids who want an accessible and approachable story about confidence, ambition, and prejudice.

Firstly, Magied is a Muslim and knows that the actionsher Muslim character is undertakingare forbidden. She is also aware that it is forbidden to be gay. Therefore, why is a Muslim author promoting the idea that it's acceptable for Muslim teenagers to have a very intimate friendship with a boy and accept qawm Lut as the norm? The introduction of Layla’s family and friends was one of my favourite moments whilst reading. I adored meeting these characters and seeing their relationship dynamic, a strong sense of family and love is consistent throughout the text. This aspect also displays Layla’s characteristics beautifully, she is an optimist, with a strong sense of mind and passion and tries to always remain happy. Layla herself, I found as an inspiring character whose narration made me smile and motivated me to look on the bright side, no matter the situation. I loved the Arabic included within the text, seamlessly spoken as it would be within a family in Australia with English as a second language. Many phrases I knew because of my own growing Arabic, but mostly context covered it. Although I don't know what to do with the numbers in phonetic Arabic (I just found the glossary at the end, when I finished), even when I know the reasoning if it use. It was refreshing to have a book that added the bilingual way of many Aussie families. Yassmin Abdel-Magied is a Sudanese Australian writer, recovering mechanical engineer and award-winning social advocate who writes and speaks on politics, society, culture and technology. She has published three books with Penguin Random House, including two middle grade novels ( You Must Be Layla and the award-winning Listen, Layla), which she is now adapting for screen. Yassmin is also developing a slate of projects for the stage and screen.

Retailers:

This warm, humorous account of a larger-than-life Sudanese girl navigating a posh Australian school is an engaging read' Guardian

Also, Lut's (as) wife was destroyed, not because she took part in homosexual acts but because she was their ally. Yassmin had introduced the book at the book launch as Layla just being herself, although of course themes of diversity and racism and acceptance come through - because this is the reality of Australia today. And whilst I anticipated the twists, I don't think Emily did. The book is pitched at kids, after all, though suspect there's something in there for everyone, particularly those who think about identity and conflict. This book reads like a school assignment that the author frantically tried to finish the night before. This story was so engaging - although there was a time I wanted to throw this book at the wall because of the injustice Layla was facing, a lot of the story was vibrant and fun and a story you would read to cheer you up when you’re not having the best day.What’s new here, the latest literary news, plus fresh giveaways every month. Sent out just once a month, for free. A speedy read, filled with creative ideas, heart-warming character moments and the concept of knowing who you are. You Must Be Layla follows Layla a young Sudanese-Australian girl about to start a new, fancy private school and the challenges she faces and overcomes.

Layla’s story also offers an insight into normal Muslim family life and some of the barriers people of colour can face, while the Australian setting will be effortlessly accessible to UK readers. With strong themes of friendship, equality and respect, this story is fresh, funny and empowering read.This novel is aimed at people at least 50 years younger than me (say 10 to 13), but the messages are just as clear to me as they would (or should) be to others. Layla is an engaging character: she and her family are immigrants from Sudan and have experienced both racism and Islamophobia. The real value of this story is in introducing these issues to younger readers in a way which should stimulate discussion. Layla’s determination to succeed is commendable, even if her application sometimes needs a little focus. A community school, ISM doesn’t have a lot of funding for extra equipment and opportunities and when she meets private school student, Adam, in the park, she begins to realise that she may need to branch out. Adam attends Mary Maxmillion Grammar (MMG) a private and very exclusive school that has everything you could imagine, including a workshop with all kinds of equipment that Layla could use to bring her beloved inventions to life. Layla loves to make jewellery at home – the precision of threading beads and creating patterns appeals, but she would love the opportunity to make so much more. Looking outside and in, Layla will need to come to terms with who she is and who she wants to be if she has any chance of succeeding. Oh boy. I had such high hopes for this book because I have nothing but respect for Yassmin Abdel-Magied. Also, the protagonist is in year 8, which is almost unheard of in YA and I was super excited to have a book coming out for the younger end of the YA audience. And there was a reasonable amount about this that I enjoyed - a teenage girl who's interested in STEM, the struggles of being a Sudanese Muslim at a private school that's very white, and the difficulties of being a 14 year old girl full stop.

Is this censorship or cancelling individuals? No, it is called enjoining the good and forbidding the evil, and it's obligatory to do this with wisdom, not hatred. In her first fiction book for young readers, writer, broadcaster and award-winning social advocate, Yasmin Abdel-Magied, gives us the inspiring and hopeful story of Layla. A Sudanese teenager in Australia, Layla is curious, adventurous and determined to learn anything and everything she can about the world. Her family moved to Australia from Sudan when her mother, a doctor, was offered a position at a Brisbane hospital, and things have been very different ever since.

LoveReading4Kids Says

One specific feature I really loved in the telling of Layla’s story was her passion for what she loves. As we continue to read, we discover her interest in creating, whether it be jewellery or other inventions and robots. I was super excited to see more unique hobbies and interests demonstrated in young adult fiction rather than the typical tropes seen in other fiction works. During the book, we see how some students and teachers treat Layla, this was definitely an eye-opener to me, and I felt it conveyed serious ideas of power and influence in certain cases.